Volleyball Wraps 2012 Season With Celebratory BanquetBoilermakers honor four seniors, successful year at event.

The 2012 Boilermakers posted a 23-11 record and made their sixth Sweet 16 appearance in the last eight years.

Jan. 11, 2013

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker volleyball team celebrated the 2012 season at its annual postseason banquet on Friday. The event recognized the team's 23-11 record, Sweet 16 appearance and year-long stay among the nationally ranked, as well as individual honors and the careers of the team's four seniors: Anna Drewry, Courtney Gosewisch, Amanda Miller and Ariel Turner.

Turner was recognized for a plethora of honors, highlighted by Academic All-America of the Year, Capital One Academic All-America first team, AVCA All-America second team and unanimous All-Big Ten accolades. The Senior CLASS Award finalist also garnered Big Ten Player of the Week honors twice and Defensive Player of the Week accolades once in 2012. She averaged 4.48 kills per set, ranking 13th nationally, while also putting up 5.12 points per set, ranking 11th nationally, and adding 2.76 digs per set. The Highlands Ranch, Colo., native posted double-digit kill efforts 28 times and double-digit digs in 18 matches. She managed 16 double-doubles, while leading the team in kills 30 times, digs six times and blocks four times. The senior also served up 28 aces, including a career-best seven at Cincinnati, which ranks tied for fourth in Purdue history. Turner wrapped her career ranked first in Purdue lore in hitting attempts (5,578) and second in career kills (1,906).

Redshirt junior libero Carly Cramer, an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, was honored for anchoring the Boilermaker backcourt. Cramer pulled up 4.23 digs per set, served up a team-best 36 aces and made good on 95 percent of her serve reception chances, while starting 33 matches. The Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 24, ranked seventh in the Big Ten in aces (0.29 per set) and ranked fourth in the league in both overall and conference digs per set. Cramer joined the 1,000-dig club on Sept. 22, becoming the 15th Boilermaker to achieve the feat. She tallied double-digit digs in 29 matches, including 20 or more nine times. The Martinsville, Ind., native also managed two double-doubles, posting 12 assists and 21 digs against Jacksonville State as well as 11 assists and 20 digs at No. 9 Nebraska. Cramer pulled up a career-high tying 30 digs against Rice, making her one of just five players to have reached the milestone twice.

Rookie right side hitter Annie Drews was recognized for her selection to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. Drews played in 29 matches, averaging 2.14 kills, third most on the team, while hitting at a .291 clip and adding 0.55 blocks per set. The Elkhart, Ind., native started 15 matches and posted double-digit kills nine times, including a season-best 18 vs. No. 2 Penn State. The rookie, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sept. 24, also led Purdue in blocks three times. She hit .250 or better 14 times, including .400 or better six times, while also adding 39 digs and 48 blocks.

Team honors, including the Red Mackey nomination and the Carol Dewey Mental Attitude Award, also were distributed.

Miller wrapped her Boilermaker career by garnering the Carol Dewey Mental Attitude Award as well as the team's Red Mackey Award. The Carol Dewey award is bestowed on the individual voted by her teammates as the player who best exemplifies the positive image represented by Purdue Volleyball.

Miller also received the Sue Jurkonis Strength Award for strongest upperclassman for her work in the weight room.

The Trabuco Canyon, Calif., native saw action in 30 matches, while averaging 1.56 digs per set. She posted four double-digit dig efforts, including a career-best 13 at Rice. Miller started 15 matches, earned her the first of her five-year career against George Washington. She served up 13 aces, third most on the team, while making good on 93 percent of her serve reception chances. The senior also dished out 19 assists, including a career-best four against No. 2 Penn State. Miller was named MVP of the Mortar Board Premier.

The team honored four players with Sue Jurkonis Strength Awards, which are given out annually in honor of former Boilermaker Sue Jurkonis who played volleyball for Purdue form 1994 to 1996. Jurkonis was an avid weight lifter and one of the Boilermakers' strongest athletes before losing her two-year battle with brain cancer in 1998.

Miller garnered Strongest Upperclassman honors, while sophomore middle blocker Kiki Jones was named as the Most Improved Upperclassman. Jones started all 34 matches and played in all 127 sets, averaging 1.86 kills per set on a team-best .360 hitting effort, ranking fourth on Purdue's season hitting percentage list and 47th nationally and seventh in the Big Ten. The Fishers, Ind., native also added 0.95 blocks per set, second most on the team, and led the Boilermakers in blocks 16 times, including five or more stuffs eight times. She served up 12 aces and managed 51 digs, including a career-best five in the NCAA second round win over No. 12 Florida State. Jones was named MVP of the Active Ankle Challenge.

Outside hitter Sam Epenesa was named as the Strongest Freshman, while right side hitter Annie Drews received Most Improved Freshman accolades. Epenesa played in 12 matches, posting 21 kills, nine digs and six blocks. The Glen Carbon, Ill., native earned the start against George Washington and posted a team-leading eight kills and hit at a .533 clip in the match.

The Boilermakers also honored the academic accomplishments of the student-athletes, including Turner's Academic All-America of the Year honor, Purdue's first since Drew Brees in 2000. Turner and redshirt junior Rachel Davis garnered Academic All-District V accolades, with Turner earning first team honors and Davis being named to the second team.

Redshirt junior outside hitter Katie Griffin received the Helen B. Schleman Award from the Reamer Club for being the junior or senior with the highest GPA on the team over the last two semesters.

Turner, Davis and four other players received Academic All-Big Ten accolades. Drewry, Gosewisch, Griffin and Jones rounded out the group. Student-athletes must be in at least their second academic year and carry a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 to be eligible for the honors.

The Boilermakers ended the 2012 season ranked 15th in the final AVCA Coaches Poll after its sixth Sweet 16 run in the last seven seasons.

The returning players will take a brief respite before getting back into the gym to prepare for their spring campaign, which will include four competition dates.